Did you know that WA State law requires that you install Carbon Monoxide Detectors prior to transferring property to the new buyer? Here is the rule…

The number of CO monitors required in any given home (new and resale), and the location of those monitors, is controlled by regulation adopted through the state building code.  WAC 51.51.315 provides:
 
"… an approved carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms in dwelling units and on each level of the dwelling and in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations."

I just prepared this report tomorrow and will be sending it out in my newsletter.If you would like a free copy of my newsletter simply give me a call or send me an e-mail requesting to be added to my mailing list.

Sept Newsletter

According to the National Association of Realtors, FSBOs typically have a lower median selling price:$208,700 compared to $235,000.Thus the typical agent-assisted home sale typically has a 13 percent higher sales price than the typical FSBO sale. In addition to having much less to worry about, not having to go through all the work yourself, & having legal representation protecting you from a lawsuit, you save a lot more $. I'm just saying…

Interest Rates

This is a really interesting graph. It shows the average price of homes by year in WA State. Notice the trend. Great news if you're a homeowner as values are approaching levels we saw before everything tanked. It's about time![/caption]

It's a fantastic time to own rental property in Whatcom County. Look at the latest vacany rate report from Windermere Property Management.

Vacancy Rate Flyer 12_29_14

Program                                        Rate                   

MLS-powered local brokerage sites enjoy three major advantages over portal sites (sites such as Zillow and Trulia)

• Brokerage sites show 100% of the agent-listed homes for sale, compared to only 80% on portal sites.
• Brokerage sites show new homes for sale 7 to 9 days earlier than portal sites.
• 36% of home listings that appear as active on portal sites are no longer for sale.

It's definitely go time in Whatcom County. Lots of activity in the real estate market right now. New listings coming on daily and buyers are out and about shopping with the improved weather and spring in the air. With lower than average inventory we're seeing some new life in homes that are higher in value and occasionally multiple offers on the lower priced inventory. Call me for a free consultation today!

It will be interesting to see how this month finishes but I think it's fair to say it was a pretty slow month for real estate in Whatcom County. There is a shortage of inventory which may be contributing to fewer homes pending but we are definitely lacking buyers. Even on some of the lower priced inventory the homes are not moving nearly as quickly as they were just a month ago. I find it surprising too with the interest rates remaining ever so low. May of 2013 was our strongest month of the year for the number of homes that went under contract in Whatcom County. So if that trend is similar this year (typically real estate is very cyclical )one can only expect things to perk up soon!